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Introduction: Leishmaniasis is one of the important endemic diseases in Iran and is divided into cutaneous and visceral Leishmaniasis. Since determining the type of the parasite is effective in the controlling and preventing of the disease, we sought to find a method for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Materials & Methods: In this research 35 cutaneous leishmaniasis patients from different part of Iran [8 infectious cases from the province of Isfe-han and its margins namely, Ardestan, Kashan and Samiram 2 cases from Kerman (the foci of the infection was Sirjan), 4 cases from Khorasan, 2 cases from Mashhad, 2 cases from Esfraeian, 2 casese from Boshehr, 3 cases from Semnan (the foci of the infection was Damghan) and 1 case from ghom] were collected. After preparing the direct slide DNA extracted from all patients, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done for the gene of ITS1. Findings: The results of PCR indicated that all of the cases were positive and showed DNA fragment bands in the size range of 69-350 bp. The results from restriction fragment length of polymorphism (RFLP) indicated that 94% (33 persons) and 6% (2 persons) of the cases were detected as Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica, respectively. Discussion & Conclusion: These results showed that PCR-RFLP method by using Apo1gene is suitable for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by leishmania species.

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Introduction: Osteoporosis-related fractures are one of the most common causes of disabilities in the world as well as in Iran that their incidence is more common among women and old persons. Considering the importance of preventing osteoporosis, especially in women, this study was performed to determine the effect of brief osteoporosis education on knowledge of the first, second and third grades middle school girl students. Methods & Materials: This experimental study (case-control design) was carried out in 2012. The convenience sample included 214 students (the first, second and third grades) were randomly divided to case (111) and control (103) groups. The data collection tools were standard questionnaires that 2 times (before and 2 weeks after education) were completed by the students under study. After pre-test, 1 educational session in the case group were performed. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software and statistical tests (independent t-test, paired t-test, Mann-Whitney and etc). Participation of students was voluntary and with informed consent. Findings: Results of the study showed that there were no significant differences between the scores of knowledge in two groups before the intervention however, after the intervention there was a significant difference in the levels of knowledge between the case and control groups (p<0.001). The same situation was observed in comparing students of grade 1, 2, and 3 between the two groups, separately. Discussion & Conclusion: According to the results, it could be concluded that the brief program was effective on increasing knowledge of the students who had limited information. Thus, short effective interventions but with low costs could be very helpful in improving the awareness of students on osteoporosis and other similar problems.

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Abstract

Introduction: Water treatment by membrane methods such as reverse osmosis is used by people in the region that the quality of drinking water is not suitable. The low quality of water in Abadan city is resulted in the use of water treatment centers with reverse osmosis (RO) systems and distribution of water by portable tanks over the city. In this study, the microbial quality of product water supplied by the treatment centers and portable water tanks was examined.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the water treatment centers and portable water tanks over six months (summer and autumn 2012) in Abadan city. A total of 159 samples were taken and examined by the standard procedures. The parameters of E.coli, coliform, TDS, EC, pH, residual chlorine and turbidity were measured in this work.

Results: The results showed that 2% of water treatment centers and 5% of portable tanks were contaminated by E.coli microorganism. The residual chlorine and turbidity of water samples were also undesirable in the 92% and 87% of the tested samples, respectively. But, the results of the EC, TDS and PH analysis of the water samples showed that the quality of these parameters were in the range of the national and international standards.

Discussion and Conclusion: Despite more microbial contamination of water in the portable water tanks toward the water treatment centers, the statistical analysis did not show the significant difference between them (P-value>0.05). But, due to the high microbial contamination observed in the portable tanks, the adding the disinfectants into the water tanks and educating the portable tanks operators to rise of their awareness can be effective in reducing the secondary bacterial infections.

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Introduction: Echinococcosis disease is one of the most common diseases of human and animals in many parts of the world, including Iran, which is caused by larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. This parasite has a high genetic diversity and including a complex of different genotypes (strains). Usually in areas where disease is endemic, there is a relatively high genetic diversity in parasite biologically. Studies in different parts of the world demonstrate that genotype variation and the nature of E.granulosus influenced on the life cycle of parasite, transmission routes, pathogenesis, and antigenicity, immunogenicity, response to medication, epidemiology and control of the disease. The aim of present study was to determination of genotype isolates of human and sheep hydatid in Ilam province for the first time. Materials & methods: 20 hydatid cyst samples were collected from sheep Ilam Industrial slaughterhouses and 10 human samples from Ilam hospitals. After DNA extraction of protoscoleces, mitDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad-1) areas was amplified by PCR and the PCR products were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Findings: Based on the results which obtained, the size of proliferative nad-1 products was 550 base pairs. Patterns of parts which obtained from PCR products after cutting by AluI and RsaI enzymes showed that all samples had a similar RFLP pattern but HpaII enzyme did not cut any region and had no change in fragment size. Discussion & Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that genotypic similarities between the size of DNA bands of E. granulosus from human and sheep isolates with PCR-RFLP method indicated the occurrence of similarities genotypes of E.granulosus in Ilam region. There is at least one genotype of parasite, which belongs to E. granulosous sensu stricto (G1-G3) complex.

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Introduction: Somatization symptoms are the obvious physical symptoms without unexplained physical cause. The aim of present study is to examine the relation of psychological variables (alexithymia, negative affect, traumatic events and personality disorder) with somatization symptom in nurses of Ahvaz hospitals.
 Materials & methods: this study is a correlational research. The statistical population included 283 nurses who were selected by multi-stage sampling method. Pearson correlation and regression tests have been used to test the hypotheses.
Findings: Results illustrated that there is a significant relation between alexithymia, negative affect, and traumatic events, personality disorders (antisocial, paranoid histrionic and avoidance) with somatization. Also regression results showed that alexithymia, negative affect, traumatic events and personality disorder (avoidance) were the best predictor of somatization symptoms.
Discussion &Conclusion: Results support from relation between alexithymia, negative affect, traumatic events and personality disorders with somatization symptoms.

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Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is one of the chronic, non-curable diseases of central nervous system and according to various studies its signs could have a negative impact on quality of life among these patients. Hence, the present study sought to examine the effectiveness of logotherapy on quality of life among MS patients.

Matherials & method: This is an experimental research with pretest- posttest and control group the population included all of patients with MS in Shahrekord in 2013. Cluster sampling was used to select the sample. Instruments which were used in this study included MSQOL-54 inventory for quality of life and group logotherapy.

Results: Results showed that logotherapy is effective on quality of life in MS patients as the 76% increase in dependent variable in this study is quality of life related to effectiveness of group logotherapy.

Discussion & Conclusion: Logotherapy as a technic, with increasing responsibility, transformation of patient's beliefs about life and increasing life expectancy lead to improvement of quality of life in patient with MS in physical and psychological dimensions.

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Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases especially atherosclerosis, are the main causative of disability and death in all over the world and they have increasing spread in Iran. Homocysteine and fibrinogen are two new risk factors for prediction of atherosclerosis. Considering this, our aim in this study was to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks aerobic training on serum predictive inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis and lipid profile in obese elderly women.

Materials & methods: In a quasi-experimental study, 44 obese women (BMI&ge;30) 55 to 65 years old as volunteer, were selected and randomly divided into two groups of experiment (22 individuals) and control (22 individuals). Training program included aerobic exercise with 45 to 65 percent of maximum heart rate for 1 hour per session and 3session per week and continued for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected after 12 hours fasting in the pre-test and 48 hours in the post-test to measure homocysteine, fibrinogen, high-sensitivity protein (CRP) and lipid profile.

Findings: Present study data shows that a significant decrease was observed in homocysteine (p=0.004), hs-CRP (p=0.009), cholesterol (p=0.037), triglyceride (p=0.017) and LDL-C (p=0.047) levels in experimental group; while there wasn't significant relation between study variability in control group. Also, a significant difference was observed in comparison between control and experimental groups about homocysteine (p=0.000), hs-CRP (p=0.037), cholesterol (p=0.049), triglyceride (p=0.000) and LDL-C (p=0.012). There was a significant relation between body fat percentage(r=0.87) and body mass index(r=0.68) with homocysteine.

Discussion & Conclusions: To sum up, by losing weight  and body fat, homocysteine, CRP and also the increase of HDL study results showed that 8 week aerobic training can lead to reduction of cardiovascular risk factors and improving the health status in the elderly women.

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Introduction: Hydatidosisis one of the most common diseases of human and animals from Cestoda class with worldwide distribution. This disease of both public health and economic damage is very important. This parasite has a high genetic diversity and includes a complex of different genotypes .Usually in areas where disease is endemic; biologically there is a relatively high genetic diversity in parasites. Studies in different parts of the world demonstrate that genotype variation and the nature of Echinococcus granulosus influenced on the life cycle of parasite, transmission routes, pathogenesis, and antigenicity, immunogenicity, response to medication, epidemiology and control of the disease. The main aim of the present study was to investigate genotype diversity of E. granulosus which was isolated from stray dogs in Ilam city, West of Iran.

Materials & methods: Adult worms were collected from the small intestine of the stray dogs. DNA was extracted from the adult worms and the partial mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome Oxidasesubunit 1 (Cox1) was amplified by PCR then the products were digested by using Alu1 and HpaII restriction enzymes. Finally, a number of PCR products were bidirectionally sequenced. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses were performed using MEGA6 (Mega software. net).

Findings: Totally, twenty stray dogs out of 75 (26.66%) showed infection with E. granulosus. Amplified PCR product for all isolates was a band of approximately 450bp. Alu1 digested the product into two bands of approximately 175bp and 275bp fragments, while the HpaII cut the product into 265bp and 185bp fragments for all dog samples. Based on the DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP results, dog samples indicated to pertain the genotypic similarities. According to the phylogenetic tree, there is at least one genotype of parasite, which belongs to E. granulosous sensu stricto (G1–G3) complex and overall isolates sequences of mtDNA indicated 100 % homology with references G1, G2, and G3 sequences in the GenBank database.

Discussion & conclusions: The results of this study indicated that genotypic similarities between the sizes of DNA bands of E. granulosus from all isolates with PCR-RFLP and sequencing methods indicated the occurrence of similarities genotypes of E.granulosus in Ilam region. There is at least one genotype of parasite, which belongs to E. granulosous sensu stricto(G1-G3)complex.

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Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of metabolic abnormalities that enhance the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Ghrelin and obestatin are gut hormones with similar origin that have pivotal roles in food intake and energy metabolism. The aim of present study was to investigate the association between serum ghrelin/obestatin ratio and the components of MetS in women.
 
Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on the total of 86 women, including 43 female patients with MetS and 43 healthy women as the control group. The participants were selected through convenience sampling method among women with similar body mass index and the age range of 30-50 years. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, fasting serum obestatin, ghrelin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were measured. Moreover, this study investigated the association between serum levels of ghrelin/obestatin ratio and MetS components.
 
Findings: Serum levels of ghrelin/obestatin ratio was significantly lower in MetS group than control(P=0.036). Moreover, ghrelin/obestatin ratio was positively associated with serum HDL-C levels (β=0.273, P=0.016). However, this ratio was not associated with other measured variables, including waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, blood pressure, FBS, TG, TC, LDL -C, insulin and HOMA-IR (P>0.05).
 
Discussion & Conclusions: Considering lower levels of ghrelin/obestatin ratio in women with MetS and also positive association of ghrelin/obestatin ratio and serum levels of HDL, as an important component of MetS diagnosis. Accordingly, it seems the increase in ratio can lessen the progression of MetS complications, such as cardio-vascular disease by HDL increment in women.